The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team is in the win column for the first time ever in Canada West regular season play.

The WolfPack exploded for six goals – four in the second half – as they downed the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 6-3 before an ecstatic crowd at Hillside Stadium on Saturday (October 11).

The win moves the WolfPack to 1-9 while UNBC finishes the season at 1-9-2.

"I was happy the way the girls knocked the ball around," said WolfPack head coach Tom McManus. "To be honest, we had been doing it all year but until today we had been snake-bit and couldn't finish."

For the second straight match, TRU got the opening goal. This time it was four minutes in when Marlie Rittinger (third year, defender, Ashcroft, BC) got a penalty kick and beat UNBC keeper Jordan Hall (fourth year, Prince George, BC) on the lower left corner.

The 'Pack went up by two goals at the 30^th minute.  Katie Sparrow (fourth year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was knocked down in front of the UNBC cage. She was able to put her foot on the ball off a rebound and scored her first of the season.

Five minutes later, The WolfPack had an own goal when the ball deflected off one of their defenders and past keeper Emily Edmundson (fifth year, Kamloops, BC). Sydney Wilson (fourth year, forward, Prince George, BC) got credit for it as the Timberwolves cut the deficit to one.

UNBC tied the match in the 60^th minute.  Sydney Roy (third year, forward, Burnaby,BC) — who was a force all game for the Timberwolves – beat Edmundson on the right side to even it at 2-2.

But two minutes later, it was Sara Fertile (first year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) cashing in off a scramble in front for her first goal of the season for TRU to make it 3-2.  Fertile had just come into the match before her goal.

In the 64^th minute, Rittinger crossed the ball to Bronwyn Crawford (fifth year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) for TRU's fourth goal.

But the Timberwolves didn't roll over.  It was Roy again in the 69^th minute as she fought off WolfPack defender Kindra Maricle (second year, Kamloops, BC) and surprised Edmundson as she went right to left into the net.

TRU regained their two-goal advantage when Crawford scored her second of the game in the 83^rdminute.  She was named the TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack Player of the Match.

The WolfPack closed out the scoring at extra time (91^st minute).  Sparrow got a breakaway and pulled Hall out of the net.  The UNBC keeper made the initial save but the ball came back to the TRU forward who cashed in on the rebound. That made the score 6-3.

McManus was happy that the goal scorers were rewarded after their hard work earlier in the season and in this match. "Bronwyn Crawford has been strong all year. She deserved her goals.  Marlie (Rittinger) has done a great job. Katie Sparrow as well."

The season is over for UNBC but the WolfPack have two more matches to play next weekend (October 18-19) against the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat.  Game one is Saturday at noon at Hillside Stadium.

The 'Pack's two fifth year players—Edmundson and Crawford will be honoured.

CORNER KICKS: The teams were accompanied onto the field by two Kamloops Youth Soccer Association U-11 squads, the Blizzard and the Lemonators.  They were part of the TRU WolfPack/Gyldi's Pizza/KYSA Soccer Experience.